Originally posted by Jacphar: All this hate because a man simply suggested to stop using offensive reference for a third of the country. Indeed Jacphar. Abtigiis, is that why Kenya Deputy Speaker went to Las Anod to score points against the "Pirates"? I thought tolka's view of Las Anod owners was that of mutual respect and support, but reading some of the comments made by Zack and Dejiye, he was on a mission to tip the balance in favor of the secessionists. The Dervishes might retaliate the actions of Farah if members endorse.

I think Ethiopia has been in more volatile political atmosphere than the more advanced Kenya in post-Somalia state collapse. Kenya has the potential to lead a new East Africa economic community once the Lamu port is fully financed and a common currency agreement adopted. With Eritrea already gone and Somalia's future return to political independence (now fully impeded by the West), Ethiopia might be forced by circumstances beyond its control to assume a dominated position as being "an Island in a Muslim sea". The Oromo Majority will either be given the chance to rule like the Shia in Iraq or the balkanization process of its diverse ethnic groups might take an accelerated pace.

Inaa lilaah waa inaa ileehi raajicuun. Ilaah ha u naxariisto. Samir iyo Iimaan.

Nomads, Better we get rid of the use of labels such as terrorists, pirates as a reflection of our political differences, in a public forum where even outsiders visit and glean an insight into our deepest distrust and hatred. You might not like PL's admin due to the SOOL or the artificial border issue but think of the complication this offensive label creates in light of the bigger picture. Ibtisam, Cawke's aberrant comments at times can be excused because it is limited to his person and he does not use labels that is internationally sensitive. But to the SL supporters and a few self-styled proponents are to. Larger extent uniform in its use and application. By contrast, majority of SOL members from PL refrain from borrowing our opponents' media generalization nor imitate to withdraw some potential benefits/support for their designated clan enclave, except looking at things from national perspective. Sherban, it's sad that loyalty to the nation has gone rock bottom in a rather desperate attempt to build a "nation" from one single clan. Lol

The application of this word as a reference to a certain region draws offensive and hurtful undercurrents, and not considering its political ramification on our country is even worse, by the simple fact that the world powers and fishing and vulture companies, that used to dump toxic chemicals under the Somali waters, will justify their exploitative nature on our marine resources on the basis of this parochial security dilemma between SL & PL. We can not refer to a certain autonomous region as "pirates" not more than we can call the southern regions as "terrorists". This will only justify the current sovereign and human rights violations against our people. Because random incidents related to piracy on Puntland coast have been significantly reduced it is more of the socio-political cul de sac we know we have to deal with it and find a mix of traditional and modern mechanism for our long-standing conflict than of the relentless attacks of the real pirates. But how can we draw a legitimate map for our posterity when we the enlightened folks of the land are voluntarily doing the job for those states bent with colonial tendencies of the 20th century. The political placard image that Somaliland maintains---at the expense of its brethrens---as revisionists and agents of seperatism, has been counterproductive and embarrasing to the proud psyche of Somali nationalism and our history. And the outsiders, with the help of the biased international media, view pirates as Somalis and only Somalis. Should we thus reinforce their wrong perception of reality by calling ourselves pirates or do we have to point to the root causes that first led to its rise, now spread into southern regions and parts of northwestern regions?

Originally posted by Jacphar: ^Gaal giving out a recommendation on a religious institution. What a shocker! Anwar: Madina may be a bit harder to get in but it has more accommodations from what I heard. Go for it. Diinta in la weeraro, esp Islam, has become a trend. It shows a rise in influence and a soft power on a global scale of our religion Ashkiro, nin Ilaah barbardhigey sanam ay quruumaha kale caabudaan, ha ku wareerin. Laakinse, there should be zero tolerance for such people on our site.

Is there any surprise left that racial tension in the States have racked up since Obama's reign. Recall the Police racial profiling of that Professor, not long ago. Many political analysts, in fact, have raised issues of encumbrances aimed at the President's grand plans like the health care reform, senseless opposition to impede his laurels at the expense of the public. Now minority students of UC San Diego are concerned of their own safety in the campus. ---- BY STEVE SCHMIDT, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010 AT 12:04 A.M. Discovery of a noose hanging in the University of California San Diego library set off a fresh round of student demands and demonstrations yesterday that climaxed with the takeover of the chancellor’s office for several hours. Addressing about 300 distraught students and others gathered on campus, Chancellor Marye Anne Fox promised to get to the bottom of the “dastardly” crime. “This is truly a dark day in the history of this university,” Fox said through a bullhorn. “It’s abhorrent and untenable.” The demonstrators — some in tears, others hoarse from a week of yelling at race-related protests — were not pacified and later occupied a warren of offices next to the locked door of Fox’s personal suite for nearly six hours, starting about noon. Fox and her staff left the building. About 150 students spread out over desks and floors. Some gave fiery speeches and sang protest songs, while also pleading for calm. Pizza and sandwiches were handed out between chants of, “Real pain, real action!” Campus police said they received multiple reports of the noose at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Fashioned out of green rope, it hung on the side of a tall bookcase on the seventh floor of the Geisel Library, next to books on rhetoric and symbolism. UC authorities say a female student contacted the school about 9 a.m. yesterday and claimed that she and two other people were responsible. The student was suspended. No arrests were immediately reported. In a statement issued late yesterday, statewide UC President Mark Yudof condemned the act as “a despicable expression of racial hatred.” “It has no place in civilized society and it will not be tolerated — not on this particular campus, not on any University of California campus,” the statement read. “Appalling acts of this sort cannot go unpunished.” Campus police classified the crime as “hanging a noose with the intent to terrorize,” a misdemeanor in California that could bring up to a year in prison. Any students involved could also face expulsion. It was the third racially charged episode involving UCSD students within the past two weeks. The incidents have stirred a level of emotion evocative of the war- and free-speech-related protests that rocked the campus in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The turmoil was initially sparked by an off-campus party Feb. 15, dubbed the “Compton Cookout,” that mocked Black History Month, and by a subsequent show on a student-run TV station that supported the party and called blacks ungrateful, using a racial slur. A piece of cardboard was found at the TV studio with “Compton lynching” written on it. In the wake of the noose incident, many black students and others say they now fear for their safety on campus, worried that they may be targeted verbally or physically. “I’m in awe that people can be so hurtful and so vicious,” said Melanie Leon, a Latina. “I don’t know if that is their idea of a joke or not, but those of us that are being affected by this, we take this very seriously.” After learning about the noose Thursday night, Leon said she was so upset that she asked the campus police to walk her to her car. “It is a really awful experience to be threatened on your own campus,” she said. Campus police have increased their patrol staff in recent days, as has the San Diego Police Department near campus, including among the student apartment complexes east of the university. Gary Matthews, a UCSD vice chancellor, told demonstrators yesterday that the female student who claimed responsibility apparently didn’t consider it a serious act, at least initially. “It’s someone who didn’t think that leaving a noose was an issue,” said Matthews, spurring cries of outrage. The string of racial incidents has spurred renewed demands that Fox and her staff ramp up efforts to increase the number of blacks and other disadvantaged minorities on campus. Fox met privately yesterday with leaders of the Black Student Union to discuss their demands, including calls for more funding for programs aimed at attracting and retaining minorities. They plan to resume talks Monday. Most students learned about the noose from text messages that bounced around the La Jolla campus starting late Thursday. Daniel Cheng, a political science student, was disturbed by reports that the noose may have been up for more than two hours before authorities were told. Police could not confirm those reports. “That seems odd,” Cheng said. “I mean, people were just studying right next to it.” Other students worried that developments are spinning out of control, all because of an off-campus party that they said was little different from others that have been held in the area. “Why is this particular party becoming so newsworthy?” said Amy Shipley, a junior. Monica Nguyen had the same question. “I think it’s being blown out of proportion,” she said. But administrators yesterday repeatedly expressed solidarity with the demonstrators and said their anger is justified. They canceled a birthday party for the late La Jolla resident Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, that was to be held at noon Tuesday on campus. “You can’t imagine how pained we are,” Vice Chancellor Penny Rue told the demonstrators. “We are heartsick.” Yesterday’s protests began about 8 a.m. on Library Walk, near the Price Center. The unrest ceased just before 6 p.m., when demonstrators ended their occupation of Fox’s office, pledging to return Monday. The image of a noose cuts deeply for many blacks and others. From 1890 to 1960, there were 4,742 documented lynchings in the United States. Most of the victims were black. In fall 2007, University of San Diego authorities questioned a campus construction worker after a noose was spotted hanging from the rearview mirror of his car. The worker reportedly expressed surprise that the noose was offensive. In 2008, at the California State University campus in San Luis Obispo, authorities discovered a noose inside a university-owned home, next to a Confederate flag. UCSD police are asking that anyone with information on the noose incident call (858) 534-4359 or e-mail detective@ucsd.edu. Staff writer Karen Kucher and intern Nathan Scharn contributed to this report. Steve Schmidt: (619) 293-1380; steve.schmidt@uniontrib.com

Thanks. Siirada Nebiga Caleehi Salaatu Wasalaam, waa waxa ugu wanaagsan ee la dhageysto.

Ashkiro and Abaay Haylay, exactly my enlightened sisters and I agree wholeheartedly, particularly, do I need to mention how you shrewdly quoted the "rigid interpratation" and "diety" sentiment, by the SOL atheists, and the crew who oftentimes sprint to their defense, made in a rather obstrusive, brazenly disrespectful manner of addressing our blessed deen. Anwar, both Unis are great. I have a good friend from al-Azhar who is an assistant Imam in our community Masjid.

Judeo-Christian Heritage at its best.

Maxaatiri has articulated great points. She is right, we need action and discourage the notion of using one powerful nation against another in our own backyard. A very interesting insight by George Ayittey, Distinguished Economist from Ghana. [Economist Debates: Africa and China] "Professor Juma rightly noted that there are serious concerns about China's involvement in Africa. But instead of addressing them, he chose to dismiss them. One set of standards cannot be applied to Chinese companies doing business in Africa and another set to Western companies. To be sure, the West's historical relationship with Africa was atrocious: slavery, colonial oppression and exploitation, as well as indifference during the cold war. Unfortunately, however, many African leaders operate on the fallacious notion that China is the enemy of the West and, therefore, "The enemy of my enemy must be my friend." The fact is, China was not an innocent bystander or absent from Africa during the cold war. It was actively engaged and, back then, the Soviet Union was China's enemy in Africa, not the West. China's conception of the world was tripolar: the West, the Soviet Union and the third world. It viewed the third world as an adjunct of the West and competed with the Soviet Union to win adherents to its brand of communism and to recruit the allegiance of the African nations by supporting their liberation movements. Denouncing Moscow as reactionary and revisionist, China trained and armed liberation movements in Africa. In its zeal to stymie Soviet efforts at every turn in Africa, China committed a series of blunders. China meddled in Burundi's deadly ethnic pogroms. It trained a number of Tutsi in guerrilla warfare and unwisely backed a 1963 Tutsi expedition that resulted in the massacre of more than 20,000 Hutu. It earned China much opprobrium in Africa. China also supported Biafra's secession from Nigeria, simply because Moscow backed the Federal Government of Nigeria. The ensuing civil war (1967-70) cost over a million lives. China's intense enmity toward the Soviet Union even caused Julius Nyerere of Tanzania to complain as early as 1963 of a new scramble for Africa between the Soviet Union and China. Only in Tanzania did China achieve some diplomatic and ideological success. The Tan-Zam railway line it built to overshadow the Soviet-built Aswan High Dam in Egypt was an engineering marvel. It was completed two years ahead of schedule and was much touted as a model of what foreign aid could do for Africa. But subsequent maintenance was poor, services deteriorated and the Dar es Salaam terminal became chronically clogged to the point of immobility. Although the Chinese had nothing to do with these shortcomings, their reputation suffered. Hopefully, a similar fate does not await the flurry of new infrastructural projects China is currently undertaking across Africa. I vehemently disagree with Professor Juma's suggestion that "China is an important role model for Africa". The Chinese communist model is fundamentally alien to indigenous Africa. Strong centralised rule was never part of Africa's political heritage. In the West the basic economic and social unit is the individual. In traditional Africa, it is the extended family, which acts as a corporate unit owning the means of production. The cattle of the Masai do not belong to the tribal government or chief. They are private property. Land is owned by extended families or lineages, which decide what to grow on it. The harvest is used to feed the families and the surplus is sold in free village markets. Markets are such ancient institutions in Africa. In West Africa, market activity has for centuries been dominated by women and prices are determined by bargaining, not fixed by chiefs or kings. And free trade routes criss-crossed the continent; the most notable was the trans-Saharan trade route. Africans engage in trade to make a profit. The traditional practice is to share it. In the abusa scheme of the cocoa farmers of West Africa, profit is divided into three: a third to the workers, another third to the owner and the remaining third set aside for farm maintenance and expansion. In commerce, the common practice was abunu, in which the profit was equally shared between the market trader and the workers. Part of the profits from market activity was used to finance Africa's liberation movements in the 1950s. Africa's salvation lies in returning to its roots and building upon its own indigenous heritage of free village markets, free enterprise, free trade and participatory democracy based upon consensus. Africa's future lies in its own hands, not inside the corridors of the World Bank, the inner sanctum of the China's communist politburo, nor in the steamy sex antics of cockroaches on Jupiter. But for decades, hordes of African leaders travelled abroad and blindly copied all sorts of foreign paraphernalia to transplant to Africa. The continent is littered with the putrid carcasses of such failed imported systems. Now, we are being told to emulate China. Enough. The role model African leaders should use is Botswana. It is the only African country that went back and built on its own indigenous institutions. It is a multi-party democracy and capitalist, neither of which China is. Africa does not need Chinese aid. The aid resources Africa desperately needs can be found in Africa itself. According to the African Union, corruption alone costs Africa $148 billion a year. If African leaders were to cut that in half, they would find more than enough resources for development than the miserable $10 billion in low-interest loans China pledged to offer African countries over the next three years, or the $25 billion in aid Africa receives from the West, for that matter.

^ Maryan star shines with our Somaliwayn flag on her shoulder.

Can we see how a Seperation of the laws of appearance from the laws of public morality is of utmost importance. For instance, a man skilled in medicine is not necessarily skilled in jurisprudence. And our Revealed Law no where champions the rejection of apodeictic demonstration, in this case conditions governing the laws of appearance. Let us be careful in falling into sinister designs of our political foes that our belief stands in the way of economic or technological progress. Here is an excellent quote of Imam al-Ghazzali on his analysis of divisions of philosophical sciences. "Moreover, logic may be studied by one who will think it a fine thing and regard it is very clear. Consequently he will think that the instances of unbelief related of the philosophers are backed up by demonstrations such as those set forth in logic. Therefore he will into unbelief even before reaching the metaphysical sciences. Hence this evil may befall the student of logic

Thankful, iskaga har the bitter folk's debate. Ha ku wareerin United States Department of State Review Authority: Harry R Melone March 1990 SUMMARY: Two day trip to Northwest reassured us Prime Minister (Samatar) was right: Tension is easing, Isaaks are returning and Government is attempting to respond to region’s needs. It will be a long road back….. Datt and I were allowed to travel unimpeded (Along with other Embassy, Datt and USAID personnel. We seem to have at last liberated ourselves from GSDR Travel restrictions thanks to Prime Minister’s intervention, and Department’s timely warning to Somali Ambassador. ***** are in fact returning to Bur;o and Berbera in growing numbers and, we were told, even large numbers to outlying villages. GSDR and Somali Army seem to be facilitating return of displaced persons, as Samantar promised (Mogadishu 2485). We saw no sign and heard no report of any harassment or punishment. On other hand, we saw precious little evidence of material help available to returnees, notwithstanding Prime Minster’s statement that foodstuff, medicines, and water supply equipment have been sent to Bur’o. Confidential.

That is the city my father was born. GoodNews. Thanks

The FSNAU survey showed maize and sorghum production had boomed in southern Somalia -- which is mostly under the control of the hardline al Shabaab insurgent group. Mansha'Allah, Mansha'Allah.

Originally posted by Naxar Nugaaleed: as long as you silly waqoye galbet people keep referring to sanaag as sanaag bari, there is no hope for Somaliland in that region, In the same breath, you hope to marginalize the people of sanaag and justify the expansionist and clannish elements among your people and lay claim to the people of sanaag as one of your own. its one or the other, it can not be both silly people... Well said NN. The term "eastern Sanaag" does not have either geographic or political relevance, and never had one in the past.

Originally posted by *Ibtisam: [QB Shame on all of you. Look at you all fighting about which tuulo the kid is from or what admin she lived under, who brought her and who sold her and to whom. I am more interesting in IF the story being reported is true, if it is, what are we as Somalis, as individual families doing to make sure our kids do not end up in the nasty market like the Asian and Easten European kids. Today it maybe Qardo, tomorrow it could be anywhere else because in Somali context including Somaliland, the only protection is family unit. Considering we are a post war society we are going to have lots of children without parents or anyone to look out for them, particularly those from tiny clans or huge clans- not to mention the minority clans who get abused anyway. [/QB] Well said Ibtisam.

Originally posted by The Zack: ^ which clan does it represent marka? Ma M, Dhu, W, Dha, mise kuwa kale illeen gobolkaas waa la wada dagaaye LOL On a serious note, I agree with you as far as the community is coming together and trying to decide what is best for them and for their regions. [/QB] Zack, though a lot has changed since its formation, here is an old report (1994) by al-Hayat newspaper. A report from the meeting appeared in the Arabic daily newspaper Al-Hayat on 13 January. The conference is said to have been attended by "more than 250 clan leaders, traditional arbitrators of the regions and, ulama (religious leaders)". The clan leaders comprised leaders from 5 regions of Somalia (Sool, Sanag, Bari, Mudug and Nugaal). The leaders in principal agreed to join in a national transitional government with a unified judiciary and government. They also agreed to disarm and to form a security council to oversee security in the 5 areas. Representing Nugaal was Islaan Mahamed Islaan, who is the leader of the Issa Mahamoud branch of the *****tayn clans, notably the branch to which the leader of the SSDF, Mohamed Abshir, belongs. The Bari region's representative was Mahamoud Musse of the Osman Mahamoud branch of the *****tayn. His title, boqor, means king and he is sometimes seen as the king of all the *****tayn clans. Representing the Mudug region was Islaan Abdullah Farah from Abdhullahi Yusuf's Omar Mahamoud branch of the *****tayn. The Sanag region was represented at the meeting by Sultan Abd al-Salaam Mahamoud Shirwa who is the leader of a sub-branch of the ********** clan. The Sool region, finally, was represented by Garad Suleiman Mahamed, the leader of a *********** sub-branch. Al-Hayat reports that the meeting was arranged and controlled by the SSDF movement and the old USP-leader, Awad Ahmed Ashra.

Men accused of human rights abuses from Somalia to Venezuela have laid their own claims to the American dream and now enjoy the same freedoms they’re accused of trying to take away from their own people. I am very certain that Samatar, in his official capacity, had never permitted the use of torture against civilians nor the rebels that had invaded peaceful towns and held them as shields for their own narrow political agenda. Any human rights violations, which are indeed inevitable in the midst of conflict, are most likely committed by officers of lower ranks in search for information that would give them status and promotion. But here get an insight of the latest report on the Department of Justice ... ----- Justice Department Report Finds John Yoo and Jay Bybee Not Guilty of Misconduct By ERIC LICHTBLAU and SCOTT SHANEPublished: February 20, 2010 The New York Times "The ethics lawyers, in the Office of Professional Responsibility, concluded that two department lawyers involved in analyzing and justifying waterboarding and other interrogation tactics - Jay S. Bybee, now a federal judge, and John C. Yoo, now a professor at the University of California, Berkeley - had demonstrated "professional misconduct." It said the lawyers had ignored legal precedents and provided slipshod legal advice to the White House in possible violation of international and federal laws on torture....... "The report quotes Patrick Philbin, a senior Justice Department lawyer involved in the review, as saying that because of the urgency of the situation, he had advised Mr. Bybee to sign the memorandum, despite what he saw as Mr. Yoo's aggressive and problematic interpretation of the president's broad commander-in-chief powers in trumping international and domestic law...... The Office of Professional Responsibility, however, suggested in its report that the legal conclusions were in effect pre-ordained. It said that John Rizzo, the C.I.A. lawyer who requested the opinion, had "candidly admitted the agency was seeking maximum legal protection for its officers" against possible criminal prosecution. Mr. Rizzo objected to the way his remarks were characterized by the office.

Could Somalia be auctioned to the Highest Criminal Bidder? A rejoinder By Muhsin Mahad Feb. 18, 2010 Reading the above article by former ambassador Yusuf Al Azhari in WDN, it is clear that it has been triggered by his anger with the recent demonstration in Nairobi when few individuals in the large crowd waved Al Shabab's flag in protest against the detention by the Kenya authority of an Islamist preacher of Jamaican origin. Rather than target these individuals for their provocative action, it is incredible that someone like Al Azhari, with his distinguished background, should instead tar most Somalis hailing from Somalia with the same brush as "common criminals masquerading as refugees". His Excellency's spurious assertion, clearly appreciated by his Kenyan hosts, amounts to a perversion of justice when the true victims (Somalis) are portrayed as criminals at the stroke of his pen and the guilty (Kenya authority) gets sympathy and support as the victims! The fact of the matter is that Kenya, and particularly Nairobi, has one of the highest crime rates in Africa and perhaps the world. These crimes are committed by Kenyan Africans and Somalis play only a negligible part if at all. Those who fled Somalia's internecine conflict are not criminals but genuine refugees who are recognised as such by the UN and are mostly sheltered in camps in NE Kenya. These cannot commit crimes outside the camps. What Mr.Al Azhari has in mind therefore must be those Somalis Eastleigh. Most of the residents of this famous district consist of Somalis from Kenya, Somalia and returning Diaspora from around the world. The overwhelming majority of these people have legal documents to be in Kenya. Contrary to the false picture painted by Mr. Al Azhari, they are law-abiding, hardworking, enterprising people who, despite the daunting difficulties and daily harassment they face from the Kenyan authority at every level, are running booming businesses and turned Eastleigh into the most thriving area in Kenya. A community that brings in so much capital - admittedly some of it ill-gotten- ,and who provide popular and affordable goods, and create badly needed employment, would have been valued in any other country. Unlike the Asian Kenyans, who milk the country and stash away their money in Europe, with little or no re-investment in the country, the Somalis bring their own money, skills and business expertise and build Kenya. That is why the people who resent the Somalis most are not the ordinary grateful Kenyans who daily benefit from the Somalis, but the Asians who have lost to the Somalis and who are often behind the on-going relentless and scurrilous media attack on the Somalis. What Mr. Al Azhari has failed to acknowledge is that, since Kenya's independence, both Kenyan Somalis and those from Somalia or elsewhere have been defenceless prey to the discriminatory and exploitative whims of the Kenya authority at all levels for their different ends. For the ill-paid Kenya police, it has become an institutionalised, endemic and accepted practice to extort money from Somalis by stopping them and asking them for their papers; and, if no cash is immediately forthcoming, to hold them in detention and incommunicado until they do so, irrespective of whether they have proper documents or not. Kenyans are also asked for bribes and pay up but that is only when they have committed an infraction of the law. What makes the situation of the Somalis different is that they are subject as a people to this treatment, often for no other reason than that they are Somalis. The inhumane and degrading treatment of the Somalis in Kenya, and particularly in Nairobi, is reminiscent of the infamous South African Pass Law which fined, banished or imprisoned black Africans if found in so-called white cities after sunset or without permits to be there. In some ways, the plight of the Somalis in Kenya is worse to the extent that they are daily harassed, extorted, punished and deported even when they have proper documents. What is amazing is that these flagrant human rights abuses are accepted as something normal in Kenya. That includes the Somali community itself who are always ready with the cash to get out of a difficult situation. It also includes Somali ministers in the Kenya government or Kenya Somali MPs. Even the otherwise vociferous Farah Maalin, the deputy parliamentary speaker, who often will miss no opportunity to berate about issues in Somalia, rarely ever concerns himself with matters closer to home. As for the Kenya government and Parliament, the Somalis serve as a handy whipping boy to divert attention away from Kenya's internal travails of the time for which they are responsible. Every now and then, when such needs for Somali-bashing arise, Kenya politicians fall over themselves in their scramble to take potshots at Somalis, hoping to win instant plaudits with their public. This time, it is the bogey of the threat from Al Shabaab, or alleged laundering of piracy money, that are behind the current demonising of Somalis. The recent demonstration in Nairobi after the Friday prayer and the subsequent reaction of the authorities provide a typical manifestation of the way Somalis are treated. This Muslim demonstration was presented by the authority, and echoed by Mr. Al Azhari, as one organised and held by Somalis sympathetic to Al Shabab. In reality, it was one in which Muslims from different ethnic origins participated, though the Somalis might have been present in significant numbers. The demonstration was not so much a support for Al Shabab as resentment at perceived Islamophobia by the Kenya authorities. Even if there were few elements supporting Al Shabab, does it justify the barbaric response of the Kenya authority and their blanket collective punishment of the whole Somali community in Nairobi and in particular those in Eastleigh? Kenya prides itself as a practising democracy where people are entitled to hold demonstrations in order to air their views or grievances. This right might be exercised by indigenous African Kenyans but clearly it practically excludes Muslims and more so Somalis as witnessed by the authority's reaction to the recent demonstration and its aftermath. Mr.Al Azhari for his part assumes without proof that everyone in that demonstration, and particularly those who offended the Kenyans, were from Somalia and Al Shabab supporters. But even if they were, the arrest of countless innocent Somalis, including women (some of them pregnant), Somali TFG parliamentarians, Somalis from the Diaspora, and even Somalis from Kenya - all legally in Kenya- and their detention for days in the most degrading conditions, is a damning indictment of the Kenya government and its law enforcement organs for their unspeakable treatment. of innocent Somalis. The government did what they did because that is what they have routinely done in the past with no questions asked - not least by the moribund Somali government (TFG) whose members are more keen to kowtow to neighbouring countries rather than come to the defence of their wronged people. After days of self-imposed silence, the foreign minister, Ali Jama Jangeli, allegedly owing his post to the diktat of a neighbouring country, was grudgingly forced in a BBC interview to express his muted uneasiness about what happened. His predecessor, Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, would have no doubt reacted differently and been more forthright. It is no secret that he lost his job precisely because of his undivided loyalty to his country, something intolerable to Ethiopia, the real arbiter of Somali affairs behind the TFG's dummy facade. The main question raised by Mr. Al Azhari as a heading for his article is whether Somalia could be "auctioned to the highest criminal bidder". If he has Al Shabab in mind, such a claim does not hold much water whatever else one might say about them. On the contrary, if it was not for their extremist misguided interpretation of Islam, and the crude and painful manner they practice it, they would have had a glorious chapter in Somalia's history as the group who liberated Somalia from its worst enemy when others since the departure of Mohamed Siyad Barre have opted to be Ethiopia's servile puppets for their own narrow personal interests. If Somalia has been auctioned to anyone, it is to Ethiopia. And Azhari should know better than anyone else that it was his former boss, Abdullahi Yusuf, who pioneered collaboration with Ethiopian at a time when it was a taboo and who since appointment as head of a state at Embaghati has handed Somalia to Ethiopia on a plate. The fact that the current government leaders are following his footsteps does not of course exonerate them but it does not change the fact that it was your former boss who masterminded Ethiopia's political and military hegemony over our country. Finally, Al Azhari's raises alarm about the way the country is led and run and the shortcomings of its leaders. He says: "To shepherd the country out of its political mess, a strong visionary leader of high experience in governance and a non egocentric patriot is needed. A leader who is a healer with resolute strategic political solutions, acceptable to both the Nation and friendly countries which condone public support is what Somalia is yearning for to day". This is very good stuff, but strange that it should come from Al Azhari of all people. He was after all the right-hand man of a leader - former President Abdullahi Yusuf- who epitomised the antithesis of everything Azhari is now prescribing. Many people will recall his staunch defence of his boss whose only contribution to Somalia was to invite the occupation of Somalia by its worst enemy and whose motto was divide-and- rule along clan lines. Under him, Ethiopia's occupation of Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia, and the destruction, death and destitution it inflicted on our capital and its people, and above all the humiliation of being conquered by our historical enemy, will enter the annals of Somali history. That is his legacy. There is nothing innately wrong with Azhari's message. It is indeed relevant on paper. What is wrong is the messenger whose message will sound for many Somalis as double talk. That is why few will take it seriously. Muhsin Mahad E-Mail:mohsinmahad@yahoo.co.uk

Puntlanders and Jubba can't go together unless Puntland = Clan. I thought Puntalnd was on northeastern of Somalia. Can good Xudeedi explain where the relationship is coming from here? Duh, what was it then. Zack, Mr. Xudeedi informs us with brevity and the rest is left for us to figure out as to the gist of the Nairobi conference. My take on this is that the communal meeting in Nairobi calls for a genuine unity, active engagement, and circumspect resource sharing. Because of the latter, the community has for many years bypassed the need of the larger section of Puntland, i.e. reer Bulo-Haji despite the fact that they had always demonstrated undeniable zeal to protect the lives and property of their brethrens. However, it is all about Politics and a section viewed as threat are bound to be elbowed out of the equation until the bitter reality hits home. But I call the leaders of Makhiri to be assertive of their brethrens' political rights and give them financial support. I don't think al=Shabaab would be able to manage its iron grip on the city in the long run. Time is of the essence.

Adam, ever wondered of such issues as American kids' underperformance at schools, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, suicidal cases among teens, it's because of the rise of feminism (the use of 100% society argument), and the establishment and support of day care facilities by the government. A number of studies have shown that such facilities have deprived kids of the nurture and love their absent, working mothers could have afforded them. Feminism is all about making most women labor hard (even without paid maternety leave) and thus sustain increase of tax and sales revenues for the government and corporations, respectively. (At least other rich nations recognize the need for accomodation for our working mothers and family values)

Originally posted by Xudeedi: Xaaji: Your greatest ambition is reaching out to Maryan Mursal "Riwaayada recognition", what do you know of the lower Jubba? Thanks Xudeedi. I like the fact our people of Bulo Haji are playing a major political role in the region since that is where they form majority.

Well job done Dubai Police. Thanks LST .